BHUBANESWAR: The state government has decided to utilise the panchayat offices to provide banking facilities to people in unbanked gram panchayats.
A decision to this effect was taken after a direction from the chief minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard. The business correspondents of different banks will provide all assistance to the village people from the panchayat offices.
Chief secretary AP Padhi today reviewed the cash availability position and distribution mechanism in the wake of the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.
The regional director, Reserve Bank India (RBI), informed that the availability of Rs 100 notes in the state was comfortable and Rs 500 notes will be arriving shortly. Now the focus will be on supplying of lower denomination notes like Rs 50 and Rs 20 in interior rural areas, he said and added that majority of the 6085 ATMs in the State has started functioning. Some of these ATMs had also started dispensing the new ` 2000 notes, he said.
The chief secretary advised RBI and State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) to allocate each of the 4401 unbanked Gram Panchayats in the State to business correspondents (BCs) and prepare a detailed action plan for providing basic banking services in the rural areas. As the cash holding limit of BCs had been increased to Rs 50,000, it was decided that they may also be engaged for the exchange of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.
It was decided that the Centre would be requested to increase the overnight cash retention period of BCs to two days, so that they can provide better banking service to rural people without having to frequently visit bank branches.
Besides, banks will identify areas which are not adequately covered by BCs and provide note exchange facilities in those areas through mobile vans in coordination.
Meanwhile, Centre has decided to provide sufficient fund to branch post offices to meet the demand of POSB (Post Office Savings Bank) customers for deposit/withdrawal and the opening of new accounts smoothly. All post offices in Odisha have been directed by the Chief Postmaster General, Odisha Circle that in the present scenario, the customers, especially in rural areas should not face any difficulties during deposit or withdrawal from their accounts.
The customers shall avail the facilities of deposit / opening of new accounts with withdrawn old series (WOS) banknotes up to Rs 25000 per day and withdrawal of money in new currency up to limit of ` 24000 per week. This facility will be available upto December 30 subject to further revision and decision of Govt. of India from time to time.